White House officials did not respond to requests for comment. Obama vowed generally this week that his administration would not be beholden to anyone.
Google says the main reason it has improved its standing in Washington is that Obama's tech priorities mirror its own. He has endorsed network neutrality. His technology agenda also calls for expanding broadband Internet access to rural areas and appointing the first government-wide chief technology officer (Schmidt has been mentioned for the position but reiterated this week that he was not interested).
"This administration is more focused on science and technology," Schmidt said in an interview. "That's positive for all of technology, and particularly Google."
Symbolizing its new stature, the company co-hosted a glitzy Inauguration Day party here. The event was studded with celebrities, including Ben Affleck, Jessica Alba and Glenn Close. Though Obama did not make an appearance, the event drew influential political figures such as Obama transition chief John Podesta and Sens. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and John F. Kerry (D-Mass.).
"A lot of people are united to create a grass-roots service democracy, and Google is playing a bigger role in that than anyone knows," Craigslist founder Craig Newmark said as dance music echoed through the grand Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium.
Obama's campaign and administration have already embraced Google products. Video of his weekly address is available on YouTube. During the shift from the transition office to the White House, Obama's press office staff created free e-mail accounts on Gmail until their government accounts were activated.
In November 2007, Obama unveiled his "innovation agenda" during a visit to Google's Silicon Valley campus. And at an economic forum in Florida two weeks before the presidential election, Obama praised the company as "a cutting-edge innovator."
On stage with him in Florida was Schmidt, who had publicly endorsed Obama days before. (He said that the support was personal and that the company remained officially neutral.) Schmidt also appeared in a 30-minute infomercial for Obama, and he was appointed to the Transition Economic Advisory Board after the election.
Google's spokesman in Washington, Adam Kovacevich, said that despite Schmidt's personal support for Obama, the company has a bipartisan strategy.
